Two recent studies add to the already overwhelming evidence that cannabis is an important tool in the treatment of medical conditions.

In a study carried out by Zach Klein and several researchers at Tel Aviv University, it was found that medical cannabis dramatically improved patients with conditions such as pain, lack of appetite, muscle spasms and tremors. 19 patients participated.

ScienceDaily reports: “During the study, 17 patients achieved a healthy weight, gaining or losing pounds as needed. Muscle spasms, stiffness, tremors and pain reduced significantly. Almost all patients reported an increase in sleeping hours and a decrease in nightmares and PTSD-related flashbacks.”

As an added benefit, the patients were able to reduce their intake of prescribed medications such as antipsychotics, Parkinson’s treatment, mood stabilizers, and pain relievers, some of which have severe side effects. Medical marijuana has the potential to reduce our dependence on synthetic chemical medications, which in many cases are prescribed without consideration for more holistic treatments.

A second study found that low doses of cannabis can halt brain damage, protecting it from cognitive damage in the wake of injury from hypoxia (lack of oxygen), seizures, or toxic drugs. Prof. Yosef Sarne of Tel Aviv University’s Adelson Center for the Biology of Addictive Diseases at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine performed the experiments on mice.

ScienceDaily reports: “When the mice were examined 3 to 7 weeks after initial injury, recipients of the THC treatment performed better in behavioral tests measuring learning and memory. Additionally, biochemical studies showed heightened amounts of neuroprotective chemicals in the treatment group compared to the control group.”

The findings could have broader implications such as developing more effective treatments for conditions with a higher risk of brain injury, such as epileptics or people with a high risk of heart attack. Very low doses of THC (the primary active ingredient of cannabis) trigger the buildup of resistance to severe brain injury.

Conclusive research on the benefits of medical cannabis is not a reason to abuse marijuana in a recreational manner, as with any psychoactive drug including alcohol. It does mean that cannabis should not be stigmatized by governments and its benefits ignored. Cannabis needs to be accepted as a legitimate treatment of certain medical conditions, the same as any other naturally-derived compound.